Develop a cost-effective, environmentally sound, and well engineered Stormwater Management Plan that is accepted by DEQ, the public, our Board of Commissioners, and county staff. This Plan must comply with requirements of NPDES Phase II regulations and be compatible with surrounding jurisdictions.

Stormwater runoff occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Hard surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground. This water can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants and flow into a storm drainage system or directly into a stream or wetland. Anything that enters a storm drainage system flows untreated into the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and drinking.

Polluted stormwater can have many bad effects on people, fish, animals, and plants.

Dirt in the water can destroy fish and insect habitat. Excess nutrients from animal waste and fertilizers can cause algae blooms that deplete oxygen in the water – suffocating fish and insects. Bacteria and other pathogens from garbage and animal waste can make people and animals sick when they are in contact with the water. Litter is unsightly, can plug up the stormwater pipes, and is potentially dangerous to animals. Household waste like motor oil, insecticides, paint, and solvents can be very dangerous to people, animals, insects, and fish.

To help deal with the problem of polluted stormwater, the federal Environmental Protection Agency has developed a permit process called the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). NPDES attempts to reduce polluted stormwater runoff by requiring operators of municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) to develop a program to implement a series of best management practices (BMPs) to deal with illicit stormwater discharges and other sources of contaminants that reach our streams via stormwater runoff. These programs are developed in accordance with a series of minimum control measures. Phase I of NPDES dealt with large and medium MS4 operators (those who serve more than 100,000), as well as construction activity of more than 5 acres, and certain industrial activity.

Currently Phase II is being implemented and small MS4 operators within US Census designated Urban Areas must comply. Construction activities over one acre are also included under the Phase II permit program. Marion County is included in the list of those who must comply, because of the East Salem Service District and areas near the Salem Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) that meet the criteria for a small MS4.

Marion County Public Works must develop a Stormwater Management Program to meet the requirements of the NPDES phase II permit. Under Phase II the county must determine the appropriate BMPs and program elements needed to meet six minimum control measures outlined by the permit. The six minimum control measures are as follows:

All components of the minimum control measures can be met in a variety of ways. For instance, MCPW already has some of the programs and BMPs to meet the requirements from work done with salmon recovery. Some municipalities in Oregon already have programs and materials that MCPW may use to meet some of the requirements.

Stay tuned to this website to find out more about the Stormwater Management Program. If you’d like to get involved in cleaning up the stormwater around Salem, or if you have questions, please contact Matt Knudsen, MCPW, 503-365-3187.